U.S. patent application number 14/076878 was filed with the patent office on 2014-05-15 for method and apparatuses for sharing data in a data sharing system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. The applicant listed for this patent is Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Seong-Taek Hwang, Sun-Tae Jung, Mu-Sik Kwon.
Application Number | 20140136702 14/076878 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50682827 |
Filed Date | 2014-05-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140136702 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kwon; Mu-Sik ; et
al. |
May 15, 2014 |
METHOD AND APPARATUSES FOR SHARING DATA IN A DATA SHARING
SYSTEM
Abstract
A method and apparatuses are provided for sharing data in a data
sharing system. The method includes receiving, by a first terminal,
a user input for transmitting previously-stored user characteristic
data to a second terminal; discovering the second terminal to which
the previously-stored user characteristic data is to be
transmitted; and transmitting the previously-stored user
characteristic data to the second terminal.
Inventors: |
Kwon; Mu-Sik; (Seoul,
KR) ; Jung; Sun-Tae; (Gyeonggi-do, KR) ;
Hwang; Seong-Taek; (Gyeonggi-do, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. |
Gyeonggi-do |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
Samsung Electronics Co.,
Ltd.
Gyeonggi-do
KR
|
Family ID: |
50682827 |
Appl. No.: |
14/076878 |
Filed: |
November 11, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
709/225 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 12/06 20130101;
H04L 63/0861 20130101; H04W 88/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
709/225 |
International
Class: |
H04L 29/06 20060101
H04L029/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 9, 2012 |
KR |
10-2012-0126957 |
Claims
1. A method for sharing data by a first terminal, the method
comprising: receiving a user input for transmitting user
characteristic data to a second terminal; discovering the second
terminal to which the user characteristic data is to be
transmitted; and transmitting the user characteristic data to the
second terminal.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving input data
for authenticating a user, from the user; comparing the input data
with recognition data included in the user characteristic data;
determining a similarity between the input data and the recognition
data; determining whether the similarity is greater than or equal
to a reference value; and determining that the user is successfully
authenticated, when the similarity is greater than or equal to the
reference value.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising updating the user
characteristic data by using the input data.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising transmitting the
updated user characteristic data to the second terminal.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving input data
for authenticating a user, from the user; comparing the input data
with recognition data included in the user characteristic data;
determining a similarity between the input data and the recognition
data; determining whether the similarity is greater than or equal
to a first reference value; determining that the user is
successfully authenticated, when the similarity is greater than or
equal to the first reference value; determining whether the
similarity is greater than or equal to a second reference value;
and updating the recognition data by using the input data, when the
similarity is greater than or equal to the second reference
value.
6. The method of claim 5, further comprising transmitting updated
recognition data to the second terminal.
7. The method of claim 2, further comprising: if the user is
successfully authenticated, changing a user interface according to
the user characteristic data; and displaying the changed user
interface.
8. A method for sharing data by a device, the method comprising:
receiving input data for authenticating a user, from the user;
comparing the input data with recognition data; determining a
similarity between the input data and the recognition data;
determining whether the similarity is greater than or equal to a
first reference value; and determining that the user is
successfully authenticated, when the similarity is greater than or
equal to the first reference value.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising, before receiving the
input data, receiving user characteristic data including the
recognition data from another device.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising updating the user
characteristic data by using the input data.
11. The method of claim 8, further comprising: determining whether
the similarity is greater than or equal to a second reference
value; and updating the recognition data by using the input data,
when the similarity is greater than or equal to the second
reference value.
12. The method of claim 10, further comprising transmitting updated
user characteristic data to another device.
13. The method of claim 9, further comprising: if the user is
successfully authenticated, changing a user interface according to
the user characteristic data; and displaying the changed user
interface.
14. A mobile communication terminal comprising: a user input unit
configured to receive a user input for transmitting
previously-stored user characteristic data to another terminal; and
a communication interface configured to: discover the another
terminal to which the user characteristic data is to be
transmitted, and transmit the user characteristic data to the
another terminal.
15. The mobile communication terminal of claim 14, further
comprising: a user recognizer configured to: if input data for
authenticating a user is input through the user input unit; compare
the input data with recognition data included in the user
characteristic data, and determine a similarity between the input
data and the recognition data; and a controller configured to:
determine whether the similarity is greater than or equal to a
first reference value, and determine that the user is successfully
authenticated, when the similarity is greater than or equal to the
first reference value.
16. The mobile communication terminal of claim 15, wherein the
controller determines whether the similarity is greater than or
equal to a second reference value, and updates the user
characteristic data by using the input data, when the similarity is
greater than or equal to the second reference value.
17. The mobile communication terminal of claim 16, further
comprising a memory configured to store the updated user
characteristic data.
18. The mobile communication terminal of claim 16, wherein the
communication interface transmits the updated user characteristic
data to another terminal.
19. The mobile communication terminal of claim 15, further
comprising a display unit, wherein the controller changes a user
interface according to the user characteristic data, if the user is
successfully authenticated, and controls the display unit to
display the changed user interface.
20. A device comprising: a user input unit configured to receive
input data for authenticating a user from the user; and a
controller configured to: compare the input data with recognition
data included in user characteristic data, determine a similarity
between the input data and the recognition data, determine whether
the similarity is greater than or equal to a first reference value,
and determine that the user is successfully authenticated, when the
similarity is greater than or equal to the first reference
value.
21. The device of claim 20, wherein the controller determines
whether the similarity is greater than or equal to a second
reference value, when the user is successfully authenticated, and
updates the user characteristic data by using the input data, when
the similarity is greater than or equal to the second reference
value.
22. The device of claim 21, further comprising a communication
interface configured to receive the user characteristic data from
another terminal.
23. The device of claim 22, wherein the communication interface
transmits the updated user characteristic data to the another
terminal.
24. The device of claim 20, further comprising a display unit,
wherein the controller changes a user interface according to the
user characteristic data, if the user is successfully
authenticated, and controls the display unit to display the changed
user interface.
Description
PRIORITY
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119(a) to Korean Patent Application Serial No.
10-2012-0126957, which was filed in the Korean Intellectual
Property Office on Nov. 9, 2012, the entire content of which is
hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates generally to a method for
recognizing a user, and more particularly, to a method and
apparatuses for sharing data in a data sharing system, wherein the
apparatuses share user characteristic data, which is individually
stored in the apparatuses in order to recognize a user.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] When a user intends to replace a portable terminal, i.e., a
old terminal, with a new terminal, it is common for the user to
move various personal content, such as a telephone directory, from
the old terminal to the new terminal, for example, so that the user
can use the new terminal without having to re-input the telephone
numbers to the new terminal.
[0006] Additionally, it is now possible to release a lock screen of
a portable terminal through facial recognition. Specifically, a
user's face is registered in the portable terminal. Further,
whenever the user releases the lock screen of the portable terminal
using the user's face, the portable terminal receives the user's
face data as input in this process. However, when the user then
replaces an old portable terminal, in which the registered face
data is stored, with a new portable terminal that also uses facial
recognition, the user must re-register his/her own face as the face
data to the new portable terminal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Accordingly, the present invention is designed to address at
least the problems and/or disadvantages described above and to
provide at least the advantages described below.
[0008] An aspect of the present invention is to provide a method
and apparatuses for sharing data in a data sharing system, wherein
the apparatuses share user characteristic data, which is
individually stored in the apparatuses in order to recognize a
user.
[0009] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a
method for sharing data by a first terminal is provided. The method
includes receiving a user input for transmitting user
characteristic data to a second terminal; discovering the second
terminal to which the user characteristic data is to be
transmitted; and transmitting the user characteristic data to the
second terminal.
[0010] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
a method for sharing data by a device is provided. The method
includes receiving input data for authenticating a user, from the
user; comparing the input data with recognition data; determining a
similarity between the input data and the recognition data;
determining whether the similarity is greater than or equal to a
first reference value; and determining that the user is
successfully authenticated, when the similarity is greater than or
equal to the first reference value.
[0011] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
a mobile communication terminal is provided. The mobile
communication terminal includes a user input unit configured to
receive a user input for transmitting user characteristic data to
another terminal; and a communication interface configured to:
discover the another terminal to which the user characteristic data
is to be transmitted, and transmit the user characteristic data to
the another terminal.
[0012] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
a device is provided. The device includes a user input unit:
configured to receive input data for authenticating a user from the
user; and a controller configured to: compare the input data with
recognition data included in user characteristic data, determine a
similarity between the input data and the recognition data,
determine whether the similarity is greater than or equal to a
first reference value, and determine that the user is successfully
authenticated, when the similarity is greater than or equal to the
first reference value.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The above and other features, aspects, and advantages of the
present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates a data sharing system according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates a mobile communication terminal and a
device in a data sharing system according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a signal flow diagram illustrating a method for
sharing data in a data sharing system according to an embodiment of
the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for recognizing
a user by a mobile communication terminal in a data sharing system
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating another method for
recognizing a user by a mobile communication terminal in a data
sharing system according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a signal flow diagram illustrating a method for
sharing data in the data sharing system according to an embodiment
of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a signal flow diagram illustrating a method for
sharing data in the data sharing system according to an embodiment
of the present invention; and
[0021] FIG. 8 is a signal flow diagram illustrating a method for
sharing data in the data sharing system according to an embodiment
of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0022] Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention
will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings. The following description includes specific details such
as elements, etc., and the specific details are only provided in
order to help a more comprehensive understanding of the present
invention. Therefore, it will be apparent to those skilled in the
art that predetermined changes and modifications may be made in the
specific details without departing from the scope of the present
invention.
[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates a data sharing system according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 1, the data sharing system includes a
first terminal 100-1, a second terminal 100-2, a first device
200-1, a second device 200-2, . . . , and an N.sup.th device
200-N.
[0025] In this description, it is assumed that user characteristic
data is previously stored in the first terminal 100-1, which may
transmit the previously stored user characteristic data to the
second terminal 100-2 or the devices 200-1 to 200-N, and thereby
may share the previously stored user characteristic data with the
second terminal 100-2 or the devices 200-1 to 200-N.
[0026] For example, when a user of the first terminal 100-1
replaces the first terminal 100-1 with the second terminal 100-2.
The first terminal 100-1 transmits user characteristic data stored
therein to the second terminal 100-2, upon receiving a request from
the user. The first terminal 100-1 may also perform a discovery
function, and may transmit the user characteristic data to another
mobile communication terminal or device in a network, to which the
first terminal 100-1 belongs.
[0027] Herein, the user characteristic data is divided into
recognition data and preference data. The recognition data is used
to recognize a user of a mobile communication terminal, and may
include at least one of a face image, an iris image, a fingerprint
image, voice data, handwriting data, signature data of the user,
etc. The preference data, for example, may include a telephone
directory, an address book, the user's favorite moving image, the
user's favorite music, the user's favorite channel, the user's
favorite application, etc., and may also include a user interface
optimized by the user.
[0028] FIG. 2 illustrates a mobile communication terminal and a
device in a data sharing system according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 2, a mobile communication terminal 100
includes a first communication interface 102, a first user input
unit 104, a first display 106, a first memory 108, a first user
recognizer 110, and a first controller 120.
[0030] The first communication interface 102 performs wired or
wireless communication of the mobile communication terminal 100,
including transmitting user characteristic data stored in the first
memory 108 to another apparatus, such as another mobile
communication terminal or the device 200. Also, the first
communication interface 102 may receive a request for transmitting
the user characteristic data to another mobile communication
terminal or the device 200, from the another mobile communication
terminal or the device 200.
[0031] The first user input unit 104 receives a user input,
including a user input for transmitting the user characteristic
data to another mobile communication terminal or the device 200.
Also, the first user input unit 104 may receive user input for
sending a request for user characteristic data to another mobile
communication terminal or the device 200.
[0032] The first display 106 displays various data stored in the
mobile communication terminal 100, including displaying a user
interface in such a manner as to change the user interface in form
according to the user characteristic data accumulated in the first
memory 108, i.e., according to preference data included in the user
characteristic data. For example, when a keypad is displayed on a
touch screen (not shown), the first display 106 may display a key
preferred by the user in a larger size than other keys, or may
change an arrangement pattern of keys according to the user
preference data.
[0033] The first memory 108 stores various data for controlling the
mobile communication terminal 100, including the user
characteristic data.
[0034] According an embodiment of the present invention, the first
memory 108 stores a user recognition program for recognizing a user
or an application for recognizing a user. The user recognition
program or application for recognizing a user use the user
characteristic data stored in the first memory 108, particularly,
the recognition data.
[0035] Under the control of the first controller 120, the first
memory 108 separately stores and manages common data for
configuring the user recognition program or the application for
recognizing a user, and the user characteristic data.
[0036] The mobile communication terminal 100 transmits the user
characteristic data to another mobile communication terminal or the
device 200, on which a program or an application that uses the user
characteristic data is installed, so that the another mobile
communication terminal or the device 200 can more accurately
recognize the user using the user characteristic data.
[0037] Further, the another mobile communication terminal or the
device 200 that has received the user characteristic data, may
construct and display a user interface optimized for the user based
on the user characteristic data.
[0038] The first user recognizer 110 receives input data for
authenticating a user. According to an embodiment of the invention,
the first user recognizer 110 may include a camera or a fingerprint
scanner, and may receive as input a face image, an iris image, or a
fingerprint image of the user, respectively, from the user.
Further, the first user recognizer 110 may be implemented with the
first user input unit 104, e.g., a touch screen, and may receive a
signature from the user as an input.
[0039] The first user recognizer 110 compares the face image, the
fingerprint image, the iris image or the fingerprint image, which
has been received as input from the user, with recognition data,
such as a face image, an iris image, a fingerprint image, voice
data, handwriting data or signature data, which has already been
stored in the first memory 108. Based on a result of the
comparison, the first user recognizer 110 determines how similar
the input data is to the recognition data, namely, a similarity of
the input data.
[0040] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
recognition data may be divided into first recognition data and
second recognition data, according to a similarity. The first
recognition data is recognition data having a similarity that is
greater than or equal to a first reference value, and the second
recognition data is recognition data having a similarity that is
greater than or equal to a second reference value. Herein, it is
assumed that the second reference value is greater than the first
reference value. Namely, the second recognition data has a higher
similarity than the first recognition data.
[0041] When the first user recognizer 110 determines similarities
of the various input data (face, fingerprint, iris, fingerprint,
etc.), which have been received as input from the user, the first
controller 120 may determine whether the similarity for each of
various input data is greater than or equal to the first reference
value or second reference value. The first controller 120 may
determine input data, which has a similarity that is greater than
or equal to the first reference value among the various input data,
as the first recognition data. The first controller 120 also
determines first recognition data, which has a similarity greater
than or equal to the second reference value among the multiple
first recognition data, as the second recognition data. In other
words, the first controller 120 determines input data, which has a
similarity that is greater than or equal to the second reference
value among the various input data, as the second recognition data.
The first controller 120 may store the first recognition data,
which has been determined as the second recognition data, in the
first memory 108.
[0042] Alternatively, the recognition data may be divided into
first recognition data, second recognition data, third recognition
data, . . . , and N.sup.th recognition data (N is a natural
number), according to a similarity. In this case, it is assumed
that a similarity becomes higher as N increases.
[0043] The first controller 120 controls the first memory 108 to
store first recognition data having a similarity greater than or
equal to the first reference value. Alternatively, the first
controller 120 may control the first memory 108 to store only
second recognition data having a similarity greater than or equal
to the second reference value.
[0044] Also, the first controller 120 may control the first memory
108 to store any one of third recognition data to N.sup.th
recognition data, each having a similarity greater than the second
reference value.
[0045] As described above, the first controller 120 may apply a
reference (first reference value) to a similarity for
authenticating a user, and may apply another reference (second
reference value to N.sup.th reference value) to another similarity
for updating user characteristic data. By applying the different
references to the similarities, the mobile communication terminal
100 may maintain or increase the accuracy of user characteristic
data for authenticating a user.
[0046] The first controller 120 controls an overall operation of
the mobile communication terminal 100 including determining whether
a user who has entered input data is successfully authenticated,
i.e., whether the user is a user permitted to use the mobile
communication terminal 100, based on a similarity of the input data
corresponding to a result of comparing the input data with
recognition data.
[0047] For example, when using fingerprint data, when a similarity
between fingerprint data stored in the first memory 108 and
fingerprint data, which has been input through the first user
recognizer 110, is equal to or greater than 80%, namely, when the
input fingerprint data is similar to the stored fingerprint data by
80% or more, the user who has input the fingerprint is determined
as an actual user of the mobile communication terminal 100.
[0048] Further, when a similarity between the fingerprint
recognized by the first user recognizer 110 and the fingerprint
data stored in the first memory 108 is at least equal to 85%, the
first controller 120 determines that the user who has input the
fingerprint is an actual user of the mobile communication terminal
100, and for example, may release the lock of the mobile
communication terminal 100, or may control the first display 106 to
display a user interface preferred by the user, as an operation
according to a result of the recognition. At this time, a
similarity (namely, 80%) of fingerprint data for determining
whether the user who has input the fingerprint is a user of the
mobile communication terminal 100 is a similarity of the
recognition data.
[0049] For example, when a similarity between the fingerprint input
through the first user recognizer 110 and the recognition data
(namely, fingerprint data) stored in the first memory 108 is
greater than or equal to 80%, the fingerprint is determined as
first recognition data, and when the similarity is greater than or
equal to 90%, the fingerprint is determined as second recognition
data.
[0050] Additionally, when the data that has been input through the
first user recognizer 110 is the first recognition data, the first
controller 120 determines the user, who has input the first
recognition data, as an actual user of the mobile communication
terminal 100 and controls the first memory 108 to store only the
second recognition data.
[0051] When the similarity of the fingerprint recognized by the
first user recognizer 110 is equal to 85%, the fingerprint
corresponds to the first recognition data. Accordingly, the first
controller 120 may determine that the first recognition data,
namely, the user who has input the fingerprint, is an actual user
of the mobile communication terminal 100. However, because the
fingerprint does not correspond to the second recognition data, the
first controller 120 may control the first memory 108 to not store
the fingerprint.
[0052] When the similarity of the fingerprint recognized by the
first user recognizer 110 is equal to 92%, the fingerprint is the
first recognition data, and simultaneously, becomes the second
recognition data. In this case, the first controller 120 determines
that the user who has input the fingerprint is an actual user of
the mobile communication terminal 100, and simultaneously, controls
the first memory 108 to store the fingerprint as the second
recognition data.
[0053] Referring again to FIG. 2, the device 200 includes a second
communication interface 202, a second user input 204, a second
display 206, a second memory 208, a second user recognizer 210, and
a second controller 220. Each of the components operates in the
same way as the first communication interface 102, the first user
input unit 104, the first display 106, the first memory 108, the
first user recognizer 110, and the first controller 120 described
above. Accordingly, a repetitive description of the second
communication interface 202, the second user input 204, the second
display 206, the second memory 208, the second user recognizer 210,
and the second controller 220 will be provided herein.
[0054] Additionally, when the device 200 subscribes to a home
network such as Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA), the second
communication interface 202 may discover the home network, and
thereby may identify the mobile communication terminal 100 or other
devices, which subscribe to the home network. When apparatuses
which subscribe to the home network, for example, the mobile
communication terminal 100 and the other devices are identified,
the second communication interface 202 may transmit the user
characteristic data stored in the second memory 208 to at least one
of the apparatuses which subscribe to the home network, under the
control of the second controller 220.
[0055] FIG. 3 is a signal flow diagram illustrating a method for
sharing data in a data sharing system according to an embodiment of
the present invention. In FIG. 3, user characteristic data is
previously stored in the first terminal 100-1 and is not already
stored in the second terminal 100-2.
[0056] Referring to FIG. 3, the first terminal 100-1 receives a
request for transmission of user characteristic data, from a user
in step S302. For example, the first terminal 100-1 receives a user
input that requests the first terminal 100-1 to transmit the user
characteristic data stored in the first memory 108 to the second
terminal 100-2, from the user, through the first user input unit
104.
[0057] In step S304, the first terminal 100-1 performs a discovery
process to search for the second terminal 100-2, to which the user
characteristic data is to be transmitted. When the second terminal
100-2 is found, the first terminal 100-1 transmits the user
characteristic data to the second terminal 100-2 in step S306.
[0058] In step S308, the second terminal 100-2 receives and stores
the user characteristic data transmitted from the first terminal
100-1.
[0059] Alternatively, the first terminal 100-1 may be connected to
the second terminal 100-2 by a wire. In this case, when a user
requests the first terminal 100-1 to transmit user characteristic
data to the second terminal 100-2, the discovery process is not
performed, and the first terminal 100-1 may immediately transmit
the user characteristic data to the second terminal 100-2.
[0060] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for recognizing
a user by a mobile communication terminal in a data sharing system
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0061] Referring to FIG. 4, the mobile communication terminal 100
receives input data from a user in order to authenticate the user.
Specifically, the first user recognizer 110 of the mobile
communication terminal 100 receives input data from a user in step
S312. For example, the first user recognizer 110 may receive, as
input data, a face image, an iris image, fingerprint data,
signature data, various handwriting data from the user, etc.
[0062] The first user recognizer 110 compares the input data
received from the user with recognition data included in user
characteristic data stored in the first memory 108. In step S314,
the first user recognizer 110 determines a result of comparing the
input data with the recognition data, namely, a similarity of the
input data.
[0063] When the similarity of the input data has been determined,
the first controller 120 determines whether the similarity is
greater than or equal to a reference value in step S316. the
similarity is less than the reference value, i.e., No from step
S316, the first controller 120 determines that the user fails to be
authenticated in step S318. Because the user has failed to be
authenticated, the mobile communication terminal 100 may complete
the authentication operation without performing a separate
operation.
[0064] However, when the similarity is greater than or equal to the
reference value, i.e., Yes from step S316, the first controller 120
determines that the user is successfully authenticated in step
S320.
[0065] In step S322, the first controller 120 stores the input data
received through the first user recognizer 110 in step S312, in the
first memory 108, as recognition data.
[0066] According to an embodiment, the input data may be stored as
recognition data included in user characteristic data. The user
characteristic data may include multiple recognition data. The user
characteristic data may include the recognition data for
recognizing or authenticating a user and preference data
representing user preferences.
[0067] In FIG. 4, the input data, which has been received through
the first user recognizer 110 in step S312 may be accumulated in
the first memory 108, as data for recognizing or authenticating a
user among the user characteristic data.
[0068] For example, assuming that the user has input a face image
to the mobile communication terminal 100 10 times and
authentication was successful 7 of the 10 times, the mobile
communication terminal 100 may store all the successful face
images, namely, the 7 face images which were successful for
authentication, as the recognition data in the user characteristic
data.
[0069] The first controller 120 may store the 7 face images,
namely, the input data that has been successfully authenticated, in
the first memory 108, and to update the recognition data stored in
the first memory 108.
[0070] When inputting a face image, a similarity of which to at
least one of the 7 face images is equal to or greater than a
reference value, the mobile communication terminal 100 may admit
that the relevant face image is the user's face image.
[0071] In FIG. 4, although only the mobile communication terminal
100 has been described, the device 200 may also perform a similar
method for recognizing a user. Namely, the device 200 compares
input data received through the second user recognizer 210 with
pre-stored recognition data from the second memory 208, and
determines a similarity of the input data. When the similarity is
greater than or equal to a reference value, a user is successfully
authenticated. When the user is successfully authenticated, the
second controller 220 may store the input data received through the
second user recognizer 210 in the second memory 208, as recognition
data.
[0072] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating another method for
recognizing a user by a mobile communication terminal in a data
sharing system according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0073] Referring to FIG. 5, the mobile communication terminal 100
receives input data from a user in order to authenticate the user.
Specifically, the first user recognizer 110 of the mobile
communication terminal 100 receives input data from a user in step
S330. For example, the first user recognizer 110 may receive, as
input data, a face image, an iris image, fingerprint data,
signature data, various handwriting data from the user, etc.
[0074] In step S332, the first user recognizer 110 compares the
input data received from the user with recognition data included in
user characteristic data stored in the first memory 108 and
determines a similarity between the input data and the recognition
data.
[0075] In step S334, the first controller 120 determines whether
the similarity is greater than or equal to a first reference value.
When the similarity is less than the first reference value, i.e.,
No from step S334, the first controller 120 determines that the
user fails to be authenticated in step S340. Because the user has
failed to be authenticated, the mobile communication terminal 100
may complete the authentication operation without performing a
separate operation.
[0076] However, when the similarity is greater than or equal to the
first reference value, i.e., Yes from step S334, the first
controller 120 determines that the input data received in step S330
is first recognition data in step S336. In step S338, the first
controller 120 determines that the user is successfully
authenticated.
[0077] In step S342, the first controller 120 determines whether
the input data (namely, the first recognition data) has a
similarity that is greater than or equal to a second reference
value, where the second reference value is greater than the first
reference value.
[0078] When the first recognition data has a similarity less than
the second reference value, i.e., No from step S342, the first
controller 120 may end the procedure.
[0079] However, when the first recognition data has a similarity
that is greater than or equal to the second reference value, i.e.,
Yes from step S342, the first controller 120 determines that the
first recognition data is also second recognition data in step
S344. In step S346, the first controller 120 stores the second
recognition data in the first memory 108 in step S346.
[0080] As described above, based on the similarity of the input
data, the first controller 120 of the mobile communication terminal
100 according to the present invention may determine whether the
input data is to be stored in the first memory 108 as recognition
data.
[0081] For example, when the first reference value is equal to 75%
and the second reference value is equal to 90%, and the first input
data, which has been input through the first user recognizer 110 in
step S330, has a similarity of 92%, the first input data may be
determined as first recognition data in step S336 and as second
recognition data in step S344. Thereafter, the second recognition
data may be stored in the first memory 108 in step S346.
[0082] When the second input data, which has been input through the
first user recognizer 110 in step S330, has a similarity of 85, the
second input data may be determined as first recognition data in
step S336, and the first controller 120 may determine that that the
user is successfully authenticated in step S338. However, because
the second input data has a similarity less than the second
reference value, it may not be stored in the first memory 108 as
second recognition data.
[0083] According to another embodiment of the present invention,
the first controller 110 may compare the similarity of the input
data the second reference value first. The first controller 110
compares the similarity of the input data the second reference
value first, and determine whether the similarity is greater than
or equal to the second reference value. If the similarity is
greater than or equal to the second reference value, the first
controller 110 may determine that the user is successfully
authenticated and stores the input data as the second recognition
data. If the similarity is less than the second reference value,
the first controller 110 compares the similarity of the input data
the first reference value. If the similarity is greater than or
equal to the first reference value, the first controller 110 may
determine that the user is successfully authenticated.
[0084] FIG. 6 is a signal flow diagram illustrating a method for
sharing data in the data sharing system according to an embodiment
of the present invention. In FIG. 6, the first terminal 100-1, the
first device 200-1, and the second device 200-2 share identical
user characteristic data.
[0085] Referring to FIG. 6, the first device 200-1 receives input
data for authenticating a user, from the user in step S352. In step
S354, the second user recognizer 210 of the first device 200-1
compares the input data received from the user with recognition
data included in user characteristic data that is pre-stored in the
second memory 208, and in step S354, determines a similarity of the
input data.
[0086] In step S356, the second controller 220 determines whether
the similarity of the input data is greater than or equal to a
reference value. Herein, when the input data has a similarity that
is greater than or equal to the reference value, the user is
successfully authenticated.
[0087] When the input data has a similarity that is not greater
than or equal to the reference value, the second controller 220
determines that the user fails to be authenticated in step
S358.
[0088] When the input data has a similarity that is greater than or
equal to the reference value, the second controller 220 determines
that the user is successfully authenticated in step S360. In step
S362, the second controller 220 of the first device 200-1 stores
the input data as recognition data. The second controller 220 may
update the user characteristic data using the input data received
in step S352.
[0089] In step S364 and S366, the second controller 220 of the
first device 200-1 transmits the recognition data (namely, input
data) stored in step S362 to the first terminal 100-1 and the
second device 200-2 through the second communication interface
202.
[0090] In steps S3687 and S370, the first terminal 100-1 and the
second device 200-2, store the recognition data. Each of the first
terminal 100-1 and the second device 200-2 may update user
characteristic data stored therein using the received recognition
data.
[0091] Alternatively, the first device 200-1 may also transmit user
characteristic data updated by using the input data, instead of the
recognition data stored in step S362, to the first terminal 100-1
and the second device 200-2.
[0092] Further, although FIG. 6 illustrates the first device 200-1
transmitting the recognition data to the other apparatuses, namely,
the first terminal 100-1 and the second device 200-2, the first
terminal 100-1 and the second device 200-2 may also transmit
recognition data or user characteristic data to other apparatuses
to share the user characteristic data with the other
apparatuses.
[0093] As described above, by sharing the user characteristic data,
the first terminal 100-1, the first device 200-1, and the second
device 200-2 may easily accumulate recognition data used to
recognize the user. In this system, the more recognition data that
is stored in the mobile communication terminal 100 and the device
200, the more accurately they can recognize a user. By sharing the
user characteristic data, the mobile communication terminal 100 and
the device 200 may quickly store a large amount of recognition data
whenever they individually receive recognition data as input.
[0094] Also, the user characteristic data includes preference data.
Accordingly, although the mobile communication terminal 100 and the
device 200 may not receive, as input, various data representing a
user's preference directly from the user, the mobile communication
terminal 100 and the device 200 may still provide an optimized
service to the user by using the shared preference data.
[0095] FIG. 7 is a signal flow diagram illustrating a method for
sharing data in the data sharing system according to an embodiment
of the present invention. In FIG. 7, the first terminal 100-1, the
first device 200-1 and the second device 200-2 share identical user
characteristic data.
[0096] Referring to FIG. 7, the operations performed in steps S380
to S396 are identical to those performed in steps S330 to S346 in
FIG. 5. Accordingly, a repetitive description of steps S380 to S396
will not be provided herein.
[0097] In steps S398 and S400, the second controller 220 of the
first device 200-1 transmits the second recognition data stored in
step S396 to the first terminal 100-1 and the second device 200-2
through the second communication interface 202. The first terminal
100-1 and the second device 200-2, store the second recognition
data in steps S402 and S404. Each of the first terminal 100-1 and
the second device 200-2 may update user characteristic data stored
therein using the received second recognition data.
[0098] Alternatively, the first device 200-1 may also transmit user
characteristic data updated by using the input data, instead of the
second recognition data stored in step S396, to the first terminal
100-1 and the second device 200-2.
[0099] Further, although FIG. 7 illustrates that the first device
200-1 transmits the second recognition data to the other
apparatuses, namely, the first terminal 100-1 and the second device
200-2, the first terminal 100-1 and the second device 200-2 may
also transmit recognition data or user characteristic data to other
apparatuses, to share the user characteristic data with the other
apparatuses.
[0100] FIG. 8 is a signal flow diagram illustrating a method for
sharing data in the data sharing system according to an embodiment
of the present invention.
[0101] Referring to FIG. 8, in step S412, the first terminal 100-1
receives a request for transmission of user characteristic data,
from a user. For example, the first terminal 100-1 may receive a
request for transmitting user characteristic data, which has
already been stored in the first memory 108, to the first device
200-1, from the user.
[0102] In step S414, the first terminal 100-1 transmits the user
characteristic data to the first device 200-1 in a wired or
wireless communication scheme.
[0103] In step S416, the first device 200-1 stores the user
characteristic data received from the first terminal 100-1. In step
S418, the first device 200-1 receives input data from the user. For
example, the first device 200-1 may receive the input data through
the second user recognizer 210. The first device 200-1 compares the
input data with recognition data included in the user
characteristic data received in step S414, in order to determine a
similarity of the input data.
[0104] In step S420, the second controller 220 of the first device
200-1 determines whether the input data has a similarity that is
greater than or equal to a reference value. When the input data has
a similarity less than the reference value, the second controller
determines that the user fails to be authenticated in step
S424.
[0105] When the input data has a similarity greater than or equal
to the reference value, the second controller 220 determines that
the user is successfully authenticated in step S422.
[0106] In step S426, the first device 200-1 updates the user
characteristic data by using the input data. Because the user has
been successfully authenticated, the input data received from the
user in step S418 may subsequently become at least some of
recognition data used to recognize the user. Accordingly, the first
device 200-1 may update the user characteristic data by using the
input data received in step S418.
[0107] When the user characteristic data is updated, the second
controller 220 changes a setting of the first device 200-1 based on
updated user characteristic data in step S428. That is, the second
controller 220 may change the setting of the first device 200-1
according to preference data included in the user characteristic
data. For example, the second controller 220 may change a user
interface of the first device 200-1. If the first device 200-1 is a
TV, the second controller 220 may change a user interface of the TV
based on the preference data, or may first display a favorite
channel of the user on the TV.
[0108] In step S430, the second controller 220 transmits the
updated user characteristic data to the first terminal 100-1. In
step S432, the first terminal 100-1 updates the user characteristic
data.
[0109] Alternatively, in step S420, the second controller 220 of
the first device 200-1 may also determine whether the input data
has a similarity that is greater than or equal to a first reference
value. When the similarity is greater than or equal to the first
reference value, the second controller 220 determines that the user
is successfully authenticated. Also, the second controller 220 may
determine whether the input data has a similarity that is greater
than or equal to a second reference value, which is greater than
the first reference value.
[0110] When the input data has a similarity that is greater than or
equal to the second reference value, the second controller 220 may
update the user characteristic data by using the input data.
Namely, the second controller 220 may process the input data in
such a manner as to apply different similarities when the user is
intended to be authenticated and when the user characteristic data
is intended to be updated.
[0111] According to another embodiment, the first controller 120 of
the mobile communication terminal 100 may also process input data
in such a manner as to apply different similarities when a user is
intended to be authenticated and when user characteristic data is
intended to be updated.
[0112] It will be appreciated that the method for sharing data
according to the above-described embodiments of the present
invention may be implemented in the form of hardware or a
combination of hardware and software. Any such software may be
stored in a volatile or non-volatile storage device such as a
Read-Only Memory (ROM), or in a memory such as a Random Access
Memory (RAM), a memory chip, a memory device or a memory integrated
circuit, or in a storage medium, such as a Compact Disc (CD), a
Digital Versatile Disc (DVD), a magnetic disk or a magnetic tape,
which is optically or magnetically recordable and simultaneously,
is readable by a machine (for example, computer), regardless of
whether the software can be deleted or rewritten.
[0113] It will be appreciated that the method for sharing data
according to the present invention may be implemented by using a
computer or a portable terminal, which includes a controller and a
memory, and that the memory is an example of a machine-readable
storage medium suitable for storing a program or programs including
instructions for implementing the exemplary embodiments of the
present invention.
[0114] Accordingly, the present invention includes a program
including a code for implementing an apparatus or a method claimed
in any claim of this specification, and a storage medium, which is
readable by a machine (computer or the like) and stores this
program therein. Also, this program may be electronically conveyed
via any medium such as a communication signal transmitted through a
wired or wireless connection, and the present invention suitably
includes equivalents of this program.
[0115] Also, the mobile communication terminal 100 or the device
200 may receive and store the program from an apparatus for
providing a program, to which it is connected by a wire or
wirelessly. The apparatus for providing a program may include: a
memory for storing a program including instructions, which cause
the mobile communication terminal 100 or the device 200 to perform
a previously-set content protection method, information required
for the content protection method, and the like; a communication
unit for performing wired or wireless communication with the mobile
communication terminal 100 or the device 200; and a controller for
performing a control operation so as to transmit the relevant
program to the apparatuses, automatically or at a request from the
mobile communication terminal 100 or the device 200.
[0116] By the method for sharing data in the data sharing system,
and the apparatuses for the same according to the present
invention, the apparatuses can share user characteristic data,
which is individually stored in the apparatuses in order to
recognize a user, and thereby can more efficiently recognize the
user.
[0117] While the present invention has been particularly shown and
described with reference to certain embodiments thereof, it will be
understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various
changes in form and details may be made therein without departing
from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by
the following claims and their equivalents
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